Homeland Security


Industry Insight

FOR passengers who've traveled through an airport recently, it's fairly obvious what might be improved at today's passenger checkpoints -- the long lines.

Flying Solo

SECURITY is something the airlines take very seriously, even more so after 9/11. Sun Country Airlines is no exception. And like other carriers, Sun Country is facing cost challenges greater than ever before.

DVRs on the Run

ADVANCED software solutions and wireless technology are dramatically lowering the cost of operating mobile DVRs in the mass transit market.

A Chemical Reaction

OVER the past several years, changes in EPA regulations have made it more difficult for manufacturing companies to stock large amounts of raw material for production, leading to the use of chemical storage facilities.

Homeland Security Insider

I'M a little miffed at my friends in New York and Washington, D.C., for all the racket they're making. For the last several weeks, all we've heard is how New York and Washington are being "betrayed" by the Department of Homeland Security over the reallocation of Homeland Security funding that results in these two cities receiving less money this year than they received previously.

A Rapid Response

WHETHER it's an earthquake in Los Angeles, a tidal wave in New York or a terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., the only way first responders can truly be effective is by leveraging a command center solution that ties together disparate public and private security systems into an east-to-use, yet powerful solution.

Bridging the Security Gap

BRIDGES are among the greatest accomplishments of human civilization. From early prehistoric structures where logs were simply placed across streams to the long, arched spans from the Roman empire that still stand today, to the modern era's engineering masterpieces -- bridges have served as lifelines while inspiring the imaginations of people.

Sailing Through Security

SINCE the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the federal government has begun implementing new security procedures at U.S. ports. Designed to fill security gaps and prevent acts of terrorism, these new regulations have accelerated the development of revolutionary physical access control (PAC) strategies and technology.



Homeland Security Insider

THE president, the Senate, several border-state governors and many Americans disagree with me, but I, for one, believe it's a dumb idea to put 6,000 National Guardsmen on the border to stop the flow of illegal aliens.

A Farewell to Unsecured Access

THE U.S. Coast Guard is a military, multi-mission, maritime service within the Department of Homeland Security and one of the nation's five armed services. Its core roles are to protect the public, the environment and U.S. economic and security interests in any maritime region, including international waters and America's coasts, ports and inland waterways. This places the Coast Guard headquarters on the front lines of national security.

Homeland Security Insider

THE Department of Homeland Security is a tempting and intimidating target for entrepreneurs looking to drum up new business. To get your foot in the door, consider the department's Mentor-Protégé program.

Too Hot to Handle

NUCLEAR waste carries a lot of weight within the world. In fact, by 2015, 77,000 pounds of it will be stored within the Yucca Mountain dump in Nevada. Since the dawn of the nuclear age, waste has been a major concern, not only for environmental and health reasons, but also as a dangerous weapon in the hands of terrorists.

A Secure Voyage

WITH port security as a topic of increasing national concern in the United States, a discussion about emerging technologies that can help secure cargo and, therefore, ports themselves cannot be more timely.

The Real World of Critical Infrastructure

WATER and electricity are two fundamental aspects of modern American life that many take for granted as expected essentials. Every day, Americans drink 1 billion glasses of tap water and consume 10 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. These are staggering numbers that help illustrate the enormity of the nation's dependence on water and electricity.

Homeland Security Insider

UNDETERRED by the erosion of public support for the war in Iraq, the Bush administration issued an updated version of the U.S. National Security Strategy, stating that Iran may now pose the greatest challenge to U.S. security and reasserting of his preemptive war doctrine.

Tracing Terrorism's Footsteps

THE power of GPS technology to aid in security and terrorist prevention has grown alongside consumer applications. When location technology was once only used to manage assets, its increased intelligence has now gained recognition in the homeland security sector.

The Frontline Report

WHEN homeland security issues are raised, more often than not the discussion begins with airport security. With millions of passengers -- many arriving from or departing to foreign destinations -- and tons of baggage and cargo passing through our commercial airports each day, maintaining security is a daunting challenge.

Utilizing Technology

LAURENS Electric is a member-owned rural electric cooperative in upstate South Carolina. Founded in 1939, the co-op provides service to more than 50,000 residential, commercial and industrial consumers in Laurens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Abbeville, Newberry and Union counties.

Homeland Security Insider

THE role and responsibility of today's emergency responders keeps getting more complicated. Terrorism has changed the landscape for emergency responders forever, as have natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast last August.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities